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The Setlist: Where to hear live music June 12-14, 2025

KAXE | By Malachy Koons
Published June 12, 2025 at 3:43 PM CDT
"The Setlist" and "Chisholm, Park Rapids, Bemidji, Biwabik" written over a crumpled paper background.
Maria Hileman
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KAXE
Live music taking place June 12-14, 2025 in Northern Minnesota.

KAXE's weekly list of concerts near you features Rich Mattson & Germaine Gemberling, Mae Simpson Band, Sam Miltich, Christopher David Hanson and MorningBird.

Summer is the theme of this week's Setlist with two summer concert series (expect many more of these throughout the next few months) and a season kickoff event.

Rich & Germaine, AKA Rich Mattson & Germaine Gemberling, are playing the Bands, Brews & BBQs summer concert series at the Minnesota Discovery Center in Chisholm. Most often seen playing in Rich Mattson & The Northstars, the pair are longtime Minnesota music scene members. Mattson has been in countless bands going back to the Glenrustles in the '80s, and Gemberling began her career in '90s punk band Smut. The series takes place Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.

Another Thursday evening summer concert series is the 2nd St. Stage in Park Rapids. This one kicks off this week with the Mae Simpson Band, a funk, soul and blues group led by the powerhouse vocalist Simpson. In 2023, they released their terrific debut album, Chandelier & Bloom. Music begins at 6 p.m.

On Friday, Sam Miltich is playing Brigid's Irish Pub in Bemidji at 6 p.m. The jazz guitarist will be joined by his father Matthew, and another frequent collaborator Mark Kreitzer. Miltich is a talented guitarist who plays hot club and straight ahead jazz plus Balkan folk music.

Giants Ridge in Biwabik is hosting the Gear Up for Summer event this Saturday with live music to go along with a variety of summer activities. In addition to free mountain bike clinics and kids activities, rootsy Americana singer-songwriter Christopher David Hanson is playing at 10 a.m. followed by folk rock group MorningBird at 1:30 p.m.

Conversation
Events Up North June 9-15: Bigfork Wilderness Days, Free Parks Day
Events this week include theater auditions in Pequot Lakes, a game afternoon in Hibbing and a story slam at Lake Bemidji State Park.

Thursday, June 12

  • Rich & Germaine - 5:30 p.m., Minnesota Discovery Center, Chisholm, free
  • Mae Simpson Band - 6 p.m., 2nd St. Stage, Park Rapids, free
    Kick it with KAXE at Rapids Brewery on May 16, 2024
    Lorie Shaull
    Mae Simpson with Jorgen Wadkins at Kick it with KAXE at Rapids Brewing Co. on May 16, 2024, in Grand Rapids.

Friday, June 13

  • Sam Miltich - 6 p.m., Brigid's Irish Pub, Bemidji, free

Saturday, June 14

  • Christopher David Hanson, MorningBird - 10 a.m., Giants Ridge, Biwabik, free

The weekly live music spotlight is made possible by the citizens of Minnesota through the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.
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Minnesota Music KAXEMade Possible by the Minnesota Arts & Culture Heritage FundThe Setlist
Malachy Koons
Malachy started his radio career in 2017 at a college radio station, where he played weird music in the middle of the night to possibly no one. On a good night maybe his parents were listening. Nonetheless, he was hooked on public radio and is still doing it today.


He joined Northern Community Radio in 2022, where he gets to share his passion for local music as Producer of Minnesota Mixtape, an all Minnesota music show airing Fridays at 10 a.m. and Saturdays at 3 p.m. You can also find him hosting Headwaters and curating The Setlist.
See stories by Malachy Koons